China's Unassailable Lead in Global Clean Energy Transition

In a dramatic shift in the global clean energy landscape, China has firmly cemented its position as the undisputed leader, leaving the United States in its wake. Until 2011, the US was the sole clean energy superpower, leading the world in connecting wind and solar generators to the grid. However, that all changed when China took over, and its lead now appears unassailable.

Last year, China added eight times more renewables than the US, solidifying its dominance in the sector. This year, the trend is set to continue, with India likely to overtake the US in renewable energy installations. India connected a staggering 22 gigawatts of wind and solar in the first half of 2023, a dramatic recovery from a slowdown in 2022 and 2023, and enough to power nearly one-tenth of the country's grid.

The US, once the global leader in clean energy, has now fallen behind, struggling to keep pace with the rapid advancements made by its Asian counterparts. This shift in the balance of power in the renewable energy sector has significant implications for the global energy landscape and the fight against climate change.